Swale Council urges people to 'do their bit' after meeting with Kent County Council reveals highest Covid-19 infections
09:41, 27 October 2020
updated: 13:38, 27 October 2020
People have been urged to "do your bit and keep your family safe" as it is revealed a borough continues to have the highest rate of Covid-19 infections in Kent.
Leaders at Swale Council met with Kent County Council's director of public health yesterday to discuss the concerning rise of cases.
Andrew Scott-Clark confirmed the borough had the highest level of infections in Kent at 102 per 100,000 people.
This is below the national average, but the health boss explained the virus was spreading "more seriously" among young people than in the first wave.
It was revealed the Isle of Sheppey had the highest levels in the borough, with some higher rates in central Sittingbourne and Milton also emerging.
Mr Scott-Clark said there was a concern about the number of cases in workplaces in Swale, which he suggests are happening outside work as people continue to socialise together, before adding that care homes and food distribution companies are also a concern.
Earlier this month 16 staff from the Aldi distribution centre on Sheppey were forced to isolate after four people tested positive for coronavirus.
Both the local authority and KCC are concerned messages in print and on social media could cause complacency among people, which would make suppression of a second wave "more difficult".
Swale council's cabinet member for health and wellbeing, Cllr Angela Harrison (Lab), said: “It is of utmost importance that we do not become complacent when it comes to protecting ourselves, our families and our communities.
“While we mourn every death and understand the impact it has on families, we did not suffer the same impact in the first wave as many other parts of the country.
“This second wave already suggests that we’re facing a real challenge, and we urge people to adhere to government guidelines by washing your hands frequently, wearing a face covering and remembering to maintain social distancing.
“Thankfully levels of hospitalisation are manageable for the moment, but we cannot take our NHS for granted.
"We urge you to do your bit to limit the spread of the virus and keep your family and community safe"
“Alongside studying infection rates and levels of hospitalisation, we are also out visiting businesses to ensure they are covid compliant and sharing information and advice with them.”
Leader of the council, Cllr Roger Truelove (Lab), has urged people in the borough to "do their bit" and keep their family and community safe.
He said: “Our officers have started compliance checks in the pubs and restaurants in our towns and have found good compliance procedures.
“Businesses have been welcoming and are clearly working very hard to keep their customers safe, however we did have some concerns about take away food businesses and will work with them to ensure they are compliant.
“We will soon be visiting rural establishments and hope for the same high standard we’ve seen so far.
“During lockdown earlier this year, we monitored the situation daily, and reported to the senior leadership team and cabinet every week to ensure we were doing everything we could to keep the residents of the borough safe, and will do the same again now that we are experiencing a second wave.
“We urge you to do your bit to limit the spread of the virus and keep your family and community safe.”
Last week, Sheppey East councillor Padmini Nissanga claimed people in the borough were becoming more complacent and treating the virus "as a joke".
